Track construction.



W. A. BRADEN, TRAGK CONSTRUCTION. APPLICATION TILED JULY 24, 1907. RENEWED MAY 27, 1909.

Patented July 6,1909,

L, I U

i To all whom it may concern:

' citizen of the United States, residing at Chi- I illustrated in the accompanying drawing,

' and securing means.

are the longitudinal stiffening members,

j which the following is aspecification.

STATES PATENT OFFICE."

WILLIAM A. BRADEN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

- TRACK consrrwo'rron.

Specification of I letters Patent.

Patented July 6, 1909.

Application filed July 24, 1907, Serial No. 385,291. Renewed May 27, 1909. Serial No. 498,686.

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM A. BR DEN, a

cago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Track' Construction; of

My invention relates to track construction, and has for itsobjeots: to provide a stifier' track than has heretofore been possible, by the form of track now in use, and with a minimum amount of metal; to provide a track wherein a small rail section may be used; to provide a stiffening means for the track which will assist in anchoring it to the road bed and prevent washing of such ,roadbed; to provide an improved means for supporting the rail joint, and finally, to rovide a track whic will not give under t e impact of the engine drivers, to the end that a maximum efficiencyin the motive power is secured.

Certain embodiments ofthe invention are wherein- Figure 1 is a transverse section through my improved track construction along-the line II of Figure 2; a

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section through the track,

Figure 3 is a transverse section enlarged on the line II'II of Figure 2 Figure 4 is an enlarged transverse section sholwing a modified form of securing means, anc

' Figure 5 is another transverse section showing a modified form of stiffening section Briefly stated, the inventioncomprise's the ordinary track provided with the usual crossties, to ether with a stiffening means ar ranged ongitudinally beneath each of the rails, end secured rigidly either to the ties or to the ties and r"ils. The invention also includes a means for supporting the rail joint from the stiffening members.

Referring to the drawing, 1 are the rails, which rest upon theusual cross-ties 2, and 3 which members are built up of angle irons placed back to back and riveted together as shown. The stiffening members 3 extend. longitudinally ofthe rails, and are secured to the ties by means of the bolts 4, and also engage the edge of the rail as shown in Figure 1, and assist in holding the rail to the ties. I As shown in Figure 2, the joint 5 between the stiifening members is made to come at a point intermediate the rail joints, whereby any weaknesses due to double joints at the In order to supportthe track rigidly at the joint the metal b same point are avoided.

6 are rovided, which blocks are recessed upon t ,eir upper surface as indicated in Flg:

hear u on their lower sid es upon the top of the stil ening members. recessed at 7, as shown in Figure 3, in order to lighten them, but may be made in any desired shape suitable for supporting the 'oint.

Another form of stiffening section is s own in Figure 4, the stiffening member-in this .modification being the 12mm 8 shown. The

ocks,

These blocks 6 are ure 3, to receive the flan es of the rails and v succeeding sections are secured to each other i by means of the tie-plates}? riveted to the ends of adjoining sectlons. The bolts,1(lemployed in this form of construction arealso secured at their upperends to the rail, in a; different manner. Instead )of havin in Figure 1, small plates 11 are em loyed overlapping the ed es of. the rail, an ,these plates are retained by means of the nuts on the bolts 10.

In Figure 5 sun another form of" Breast scour-111g the'bolts 12 to the rail, is also indicated.

shank of t e bolt assing through thefiange andbeing secure at its lower end in the usual manner. large number of different sti ening sections might be employed, as well as a number of difierent means for securing the stiffening sections to the ties and to the rails.

It is thought that the-utility of the construction heretofore described will be obvious. A very stiff track in pro ortion to the material employed is secured, ecause of the distance by which the rail and stiifening section are separated, which gives a large amount of inertia for the track section. This increased stiffness not only renders the track safer and more durable, but also ives a better driving surface for the ocomotive drivers, thereby increasing the efiiciencyof themotive power.

placement of t e track or washing'ont of the- The stiifening section's also )erform another important fllllCiJ10I1-..

the heads of the bolts overlap therails as s own As here illustrated, the head time bolt lies u on the top flange of the rail, the

It will be a parent that a ballast during heavy storms. The two bolts which secure the stiffening members to the ties and rails also add additional security and prevent spreading of the rails in case of l00s ening of the spikes with which the rails are additionally secured to the ties. It will also be ap arent that the supporting blocks 6 place beneath the rail joint add greatly to the value of the construction, as an absolutely stifl joint is secured, which result was impossible in the old form of rail joint wherein the ends of the-rails rested upon a plate upon the ties. 1'

Having thus described my invention and illustrated its use, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is the following:

1. A track comprising a rail, cross ties therebeneath, a flanged still'cning section beneath the ties parallel to the rail, and securingl means for each side of the flange of the Ia/l comprising substantially vertical bolts extendin' through the flange of the section the rail ange and the ties.

2. A track comprisin rails, cross ties therebeneath, flanged sti ening sections beheath the ties para lel to the rails, and beara ing blocks between the rail joints and stifi'en- WILLIAM A. BRADEN.

Witnesses PAUL CARPENTER, J AS. 'N. LORENZ. 

